Tuesday 26th January

Some sightings through from Gary and Sam along with some visiting friends. On Sunday at Machir Bay the Glaucous Gull was seen along with 7 GBB Gull, 23 Herring Gull, 80 Common Gull, 150 Oystercatcher, 34 Ringed Plover and 2 Sanderling. Out from smelly corner, they had 40 Dunlin,  16 Ringed Plover, 2 Turnstone, 64 Scaup, 3 R B Merganser, 5 Eider and a GND. Yesterday between Esknish and Eollabus a cracking male Hen Harrier was spotted. Over on the "floods" at  the RSPB reserve at Gruinart, plenty of wildfowl around,including, 110 Pintail, 270 Teal, 12 Shoveller, 45 Mallard, 53 Wigeon, 350 Barnies, 35 Whitefronts, 70 Lapwing and 2 Redshank. Over the hills on the East side of Loch Gruinart, a Golden Eagle was out flying, with 2 Greenshank noted from the new hide. 46 Shelduck  were also seen. Back at Bridgend, flying over the cattle market, over 300 Lapwing were added to the their tally for the day.
Here at home, after a long absence, the Sparrowhawk has been seen cruising around the garden, sitting on top of the bird table, over 6 times at least, but not getting any of the birds, just being a general pest of himself! Down at the reed bed beside the Coastguards, 2 Peregrines flew past.